Castor fought against Republicans to get the bill passed
"We will stand up for our children and the hard-working families of America and fight through all of these delaying tactics," said freshman Rep. Kathy Castor of Tampa, as she battled GOP efforts on the House floor to stall the measure.
Cigar manufacturers are vocal in their displeasure against Castor.
Still, Michael Cusano, president of Domrey Cigar Ltd. in Bradenton, said he couldn't believe that Castor would go so far as to help lead a floor battle on behalf of a bill that includes such a drastic tax hit on a home industry - regardless of how strongly she felt about the bill's overall purpose.
"I think it's suicide for her," he said.
Let's use an old analogy. If a building was burning would you save a box of cigars or a child? The choice is simple. Unless you are a cigarmaker. Then you run and grab your money. The needs of disadvantaged children come before a luxury item.
I don't want to hear about Tampa's great cigar heritage. If a history of working Cuban immigrants as slaves and spreading cancer is something to brag about then Tampa has serious image and self-worth problems.
It was upsetting to have Rep. Traviesa virtually steal $5000 from over 4000 local families, myself included, to create a barely concealed $200,000,000 tax giveaway program to the construction industry in the form of “wind inspections”. All to further his career by cozying up to Sen. Posey, whose district remained remarkably untouched by this theft. Now, to further her career, Rep. Castor leads the charge for a 2200% tax increase on the local cigar industry, also regressively impacting local consumers and, even more importantly, the economies of small Central American countries that rely on this industry to barely make a living. It would make more sense to tax sugar; as it is considered to be directly to blame for the obesity and health issues of the majority of U.S. children today. Then again, Rep. Castor represents a state where the sugar industry spreads around campaign contributions quite freely and has a virtual lock on sugar in the U.S. A lock that was the cause of destruction of the economies of many Caribbean nations and that costs the American consumer billions of dollars a year. Now Rep. Castor can stake that claim to a few countries of her own. I’ve been labeled a liberal democrat; but claim ABC/T (Anybody But Castor/Traviesa) as an additional label for the next election. I’m not sure how much more “representation” I can afford.
ReplyDeleteREAD MY LIPS ...
ReplyDeleteNO MORE NEW CIGAR TAXES!
Castor showed real leadership? Ha ... Iowa congressional members always stand up for their farmers. Vermont congressional members always stand up for sugar growers. Texas congressional members always stand up for their oil. Castor ... couldnt show her leadership to stand up for this community. Shame on you ...
ReplyDeleteReally Cathy Castor leadership in favour of Cigar tax increase is quite commendable.Because the money collected from this will be used for the health care of the poor children.But I can't understand why this proposal is not accepted by honourable president Bush.Definitely Castor has earned the wrath of the Cigar manufacturers but the attempt was human.Cigar smokers smoking different brands like Cohiba should support this stance by paying more.
ReplyDeleteEvery issue that comes up, Castor says it is for health care for children. Tobacco tax was heath care for children.
ReplyDeleteHouse Stimulus Package H.R. 7110 was health services for children. With all these taxes for health care for children, we had better have the healthiest children in the world because she has saddled them with a debt they will never be able to repay.
Kathy Castor, rubber stamp for the Demotratic Party.